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Day 1, Saturday, September 4 - This morning we
board our Rustad motor coach bound for the Pacific Northwest.
Today will be a day of travel, and keeping with that theme, a noon
meal is included in the Freight Room of the Depot Train Station in
Mitchell, SD. Later we can inspect various means of transportation
at the Pioneer Auto Museum. This evening we stay in Rapid
City, SD. (L)
Day 2, Sunday, September 5 - Skirting around the
South Dakota Black Hills, we soon find ourselves in Wyoming cattle
country. A noon meal is included in Sheridan before crossing over
the first major mountain range of the Rockies, the majestic Big
Horn Mountains. This afternoon we stop at Shell Creek
Visitor Center to savor the beautiful scenery and the waterfalls of
this mountain stream. Later this afternoon we arrive in Cody,
Wyoming and to our hotel. (B) (L)
Day 3, Monday, September 6 - One of the most popular
routes into Yellowstone National Park is through the scenic
Wapiti Valley located between Cody, Wyoming and the east entrance of
the Park. Our coach follows this scenic route to Yellowstone, our
nation’s oldest national park. Stops will be made at scenic and
unusual sights before continuing on to Pocatello, Idaho to our
motel. (B)
Day 4, Tuesday, September 7 - After an included breakfast
at our motel, we travel across the southern portion of Idaho through
the Snake River Plains. Upon entering the state of Oregon, a
noon meal is included in Ontario. Our route continues through a
semi-arid plateau known to locals as the “high desert.” It is part
of the Cascade Range, but the scenery is completely different. Our
motel this evening is in Bend, Oregon. (B) (L)
Day 5, Wednesday, September 8 - Breakfast is
included before we leave the high desert and travel into the
forested foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. High in the
Cascade Range lays the crown jewel of Oregon – Crater Lake.
The lake is six miles long, four and one-half miles wide and 1,932
feet deep. There is time to explore the area and enjoy a picnic
lunch before heading south to Grants Pass, Oregon then onto
California. Our accommodations this evening are in Crescent City.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 6, Thursday, September 9 - Leaving the hotel we turn
south to travel the Pacific Coast to Klamath, California and the “Trees
of Mystery.” Following nature trails we see such wonders
as twelve Sitka Spruce trees growing from one trunk (32 feet
around), nine living trees growing from one root structure forming
the famous Cathedral Tree, the upside-down tree and much more.
Leaving the Huge Coastal Redwoods we travel north along the
coast of Oregon to Coos Bay. At the House of Myrtlewood we
see beautiful wood products made from this hardwood tree in multi
colors of red, yellow, and brown. This evening we stay in Coos Bay.
(B) (L)
Day 7, Friday, September 10- Following scenic
Highway 101 north along the beautiful Pacific Coast we stop at
Newport. The sea lions gather here to feast off the fish dropped
from the fishing vessels that dock to unload their catch. There is
time to look in the shops and eat in one of the many restaurants,
before continuing on to the Multnomah Falls. Our coach
follows the Columbia River to the motel in Portland, OR. (B)
Day 8, Saturday, September 11 - Mount St. Helens
is quiet today, but definitely not sleeping. This morning we drive
to the Johnston Visitor Center near the top of the mountain where
you can look into the smoking crater. A picnic lunch will be
included before leaving the breath-taking mountain scenery.
Returning to I-5, our coach turns north toward Seattle,
Washington. This evening we unpack for a 2 night stay in North
Seattle area. (B) (L)
Day 9, Sunday, September 12 - Breakfast is
included at the hotel before a local guide joins us to show our
group Seattle from the comfort of our coach. Later, we board
the “Good Time III” at Lake Union for a two and one-half hour
narrated cruise which includes going through the locks. To complete
our Seattle Tour, we visit the observation deck of the Space
Needle where Seattle lays at your feet. You will be surprised at
what you can see 520 feet above the ground! (B) (L)
Day 10, Monday, September 13 - After a continental
breakfast and a short ride, our coach is driven aboard a state ferry
for a ride across the Puget Sound to Olympic Peninsula.
Another ferry ride this afternoon across the Strait of Juan De
Fuca brings us to the capital city of British Columbia,
Victoria. We will discover the gardens, inner harbor, parks, and
Parliament Building of this gentle British city with a step-on
guide. Our accommodations are in Victoria and the evening is free to
enjoy the city. (B)
Day 11, Tuesday, September 14 - Joining the
sightseers at the Butchart Gardens, we spend the morning
strolling through the gardens that grace this showplace of British
Columbia. This lovely garden consists of 35 landscaped acres of
native and exotic flowers. The colorful sunken garden spills over
into the English Rose, Italian, and Japanese Gardens. A luncheon
buffet is included before we travel to Swartz Bay to ferry back to
the mainland and to the city of Vancouver, British Columbia for a 2
night stay. (B) (L)
Day 12, Wednesday, September 15 - This morning a
step-on guide joins us for a tour of the sophisticated city of
Vancouver. We will enjoy visiting Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley
Park, and the waterfront area. At noon we drive to Capilano
Canyon and the Suspension Bridge. This is Vancouver’s
oldest and most famous attraction. It is without a doubt the
greatest suspension bridge in the world. Noon meal is at the Bridge
House Restaurant. Late afternoon we drive along one of Canada’s
beautiful fjords Howe Sound. (B) (L)
Day 13, Thursday, September 16 - Traveling east
from Vancouver, we journey into the interior of British Columbia.
Our scenery will consist of beautiful tree-covered mountains, small
farms, orchards, and some desert-type terrain. Mid-afternoon we
arrive at Three Valley Gap, our home for tonight. Our
evening will include a tour through their ghost town and a steak
dinner, grilled on an outdoor BBQ pit. (B) (D)
Day 14, Friday, September 17 - We start the day
with a beautiful drive across the Rocky Mountains continuing east
into Canada’s Glacier National Park, then stop at Rogers
Pass. At this high elevation, so much snow falls that avalanches
are a dangerous problem. At the visitor’s center we will learn how
the rangers prevent disaster before it starts. Picture stops will be
made in Yoho National Park and Lake Louise before
traveling to Banff Townsite and our evening accommodations.
Tonight is free to explore downtown Banff and the many shops and
restaurants.
Day 15, Saturday, September 18 – Today we leave
the mountains behind and travel through the ranching and farming
country of Alberta and into Saskatchewan. Tonight our motel is in
Swift Current. (B) (L)
Day 16, Sunday, September 19 – Our first stop this
morning will be at the Western Development Transportation Museum in
Moose Jaw. Noon meal is included in Weyburn, SK. After clearing US
customs we arrive in Minot, ND for our accommodations. (B) (L)
Day 17, Monday, September 20- As our vacation
comes to an end, our thoughts return to the large cities, majestic
mountains and valleys, huge forests, beautiful gardens and remote
wilderness that we have experienced on this 17 day tour. The day
passes quickly as the scenery changes from North Dakota prairies to
the fertile farmlands of Minnesota. Early evening we return to
Kerkhoven. (B) (L)
TOUR COST PER
PERSON
Single $2,999 - Double $2,499
- Triple
$2,399 - Quad $2,299
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